Up to 90 children with severe epilepsy will have early access to medicinal cannabis in Victoria, as the state sets its sights on
becoming the country's leading exporter.

UpdatedUpdated 17/01/2018

By
Manny Tsigas

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Victoria became the first state to legalise medicinal cannabis in 2016, and it has successfully trialled imported products on 29 children with severe epilepsy.

Now the state government will fund up to 60 more treatments over the next two years, with more to come once local products become available.

"These are children for whom, very sadly, the long-term prognosis is not always a positive one and simply cannot afford to wait until the Commonwealth funding arrangements catch up," Health Minister Jill Hennessy said on Wednesday.

File photo shows marijuana plants on display at a medical marijuana provider in the US.

AAP

Victoria has now released an industry development plan to grow half of those exports by 2028.

Many in the sector say the possibilities are endless.

"It's been driven from a very strong technological base in terms of the agricultural technology and medical technology in Australia, punching above its weight on a global basis," said Peter Crock, the CEO of medicinal cannabis research company Cann Group.